Lighting fixture with interchangeable reflectors



July 4, 1967 I sc E ETAL 3,329,811

LIGHTING FIXTURE WITH INTERCHANGEABLE REFLECTORS Filed Feb. 5, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN oRs fin/arr AJ'Cl/cd/ July 4, 1967 Filed Feb. 5,

TILE-EJ- H. SCHIFFER ET AL LIGHTING FIXTURE WITH INTERCHANGEABLE REFLECTORS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN oRs EPA/5Y7 Asa/c0 HEM yJc VFFEP BY ATTO July 4, 1967 sc E ETAL LIG 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 5, 1965 INVEN LIGHTING FIXTURE WITH INTERCHANGEABLE REFLECTORS Filed Feb. 5, 1965 July 4, 1967 SCHIFFER ET AL 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVE 0R5 [ems-r wart/r0 Have) July 4, 1967 H. SCHIFFER ET AL 3,329,311

LIGHTING FIXTURE WITH INTERCHANGEABLE REFLECTORS Filed Feb. 5, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 4, 1967 sc FFER ET AL 3,329,811

LIGHTING FIXTURE WITH INTERCHANGEABLE REFLECTORS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 F'iled Feb. 0, 1965 u H u H /47 H T 5 INVE OR-S Zi /var AJ'cz/cc/ United States Patent f 3,329,811 LIGHTING FIXTURE WITH INTERCHANGEABLE REFLECTORS Henry Schiifer, Cheshire, and Ernest Pascucci, Meriden,

Conn., assignors to The Miller Company, Meriden,

Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Feb. 3, 1965, Ser. No. 430,112 Claims. (Cl. 24051.11)

This invention relates to lighting fixtures and more specifically to a novel and improved lighting fixture embodying fluorescent lamps and wherein different types of reflectors may be coupled with a given Wiring channel and lamp mounting assembly to attain desired light distribution characteristics.

Fluorescent lighting fixtures generally include an elongated wiring channel having means for attachment of the channel to ceiling supports and a cooperating reflector that may either be removably secured to the channel or formed integrally therewith. Suitable fluorescent lamp sockets are generally carried either by the reflector or by the wiring channel in order to support the fluorescent lamps in proper relationship to the reflector. Since the reflector is generally designed for use with a specific wiring channel, should a change in light distribution or intensity be required, it has heretofore been necessary to change the entire lighting fixture.

This invention provides a highly versatile fluorescent lighting fixture structure wherein a single wiring channel is arranged to accommodate reflectors of varying shapes and configurations with two or more lamps as may be desired. This end is attained through a novel and improved arrangement of means for attachment of the re- Iflectors to the wiring channels and which at the same time permits removal of one reflector and substitution of a different reflector should modified lighting characteristics be desired.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a fluorescent lighting fixture having, in addition to a wiring channel and lamp socket mounts, improved means for attachment of reflectors of different configurations to said wiring channel. I

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved fluorescent lighting fixture wherein a coordinated assembly including the mount for the sockets and means for attachment of different types of reflectors is releasably carried by the wiring channel thereby enabling the assembly of fluorescent lighting fixtures of any desired length and utilizing reflectors having selected light distribution characteristics.

A still further object of the invention resides in the 'provision of a novel and improved fluorescent socket mount and reflector attaching means for fluorescent light fixtures wherein said means are releasably carried by the wiring channel.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved fluorescent light fixture characterized by its versatility, ease of assembly to meet specific lighting requirements and relatively low manufacturing and maintenance costs.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings forming part of this application.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of the wiring channel and socket and reflector mounting means in accordance with the invention and wherein the reflector mounting means is adjusted to accommodate a reflector having a central V-shaped configuration.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the reflector mounting means arranged to accommodate a reflector having a flat central portion.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of a lighting fixture in accordance with the invention taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 4 wherein the reflector has a central longitudinal V-shaped 'baflle.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIGURE 3 taken along the line 44 thereof.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIGURE 3 taken along the line 55 thereof.

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view of FIGURE 3 taken along the line 66 thereof and illustrating the coupling means for lighting fixtures mounted in end-toend relationship.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the coupling means shown in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view of a lighting fixture in accordance with the invention similar to FIGURE 5 but with a reflector, having a flat central section, secured to the wireway.

FIGURE 9 is -a cross-sectional view of FIGURE 8 taken along the line 99 thereof.

FIGURE 10 is a cross-sectional View of FIGURE 9 taken along the line 1010 thereof.

The lighting fixture in accordance with the invention is arranged to accommodate different types of reflectors to provide a selected light distribution and intensity. For instance, the fixture may be arranged with a reflector such as shown in cross-section in FIGURE 5 having a V- shaped central longitudinal portion and accommodating two fluorescent lamps, or it may be a reflector such as shown in cross-section in FIGURE 8 which has a flat central portion and is adapted to accommodate two or three fluorescent lamps as may be desired. A common wiring channel, reflector supporting assemblies and socket structures are employed for either type of reflect-or, and the reflectors may be readily and easily interchanged.

More specifically, the new and improved lighting fixture includes an elongated wiring channel generally denoted by the numeral 10 which extends the full length of the light fixture. Each end of the wiring channel carries a reflector supporting assembly and socket structure generally denoted by the numeral 11 and a reflector either in the form of reflector 12 as shown in FIGURE 5 or the reflector 13 as shown in FIGURE 8. For a clearer understanding of the basic elements of the lighting fixture in accordance with the invention, namely, the elongated wiring channel 10 and the reflector supporting and socket assembly 11, reference will now be made to FIGURES 1 and 2 showing perspective views thereof.

The wiring channel is essentially U-shaped in configuration having a top wall 14 and side walls 15 and 16. The upper portions of the side walls 15 and 16 have inwardly formed grooves 17 to receive appropriate hangers for supporting the light fixture. Such hangers are well-known in the art and accordingly their illustration has been deemed unnecessary. The lower ends of the walls 15 and 16 are provided with rectangular channels 15' and 16' respectively for accommodating and holding the plate 18. For this purpose, the outer wall 19 of each channel 15 and 16' is provided with an elongated slot 20 to receive a cooperating engaging element carried by the plate 18.

The plate 18 has an essentially flat central portion 21 with upwardly extending flanges 22 along opposing edges thereof, and the upper ends of the flanges 22 are formed inwardly as indicated at 23. Each of the flanges 22 has an inwardly extending tab 24 so that when the side walls 15 and 16 of the wireway 10 are sprung inwardly to engage the flange portions 22-23, the tabs 24 will engage the cooperating opening 20 to lock the plate 18 in place on the wiring channel.

Each plate 18 carries a socket structure generally denoted by the numeral 25 which has a front wall 26 and three socket receiving openings 27. In order to provide adequate rigidity and accommodate the socket bodies, the front wall 26 is provided with a peripheral flange 28 about the entire edge thereof. The flange 28 along the upper edge of the front wall 26 has a pair of tabs 29 which extend upwardly through cooperating openings 30 in the plate 18 and thus provide a substantially unitary reflector supporting and socket assembly structure.

As pointed out above, the reflector supporting assembly is adapted to receive and support different types of reflectors, and for this purpose, alternative reflector supporting means are carried by the plate 18. More specifically, a first reflector supporting means in the form of a threaded stud 31 is carried by the plate 18. The plate is dished inwardly to form a conical recess 32 and the threaded stud 31 extends through an opening in the dished portion 32 and is crimped or otherwise secured fixedly in position therein so that it forms an integral part of the plate 18. A second reflector mount comprises the bracket generally denoted by the numeral 33 which carries a second threaded stud 34 on the lower transverse member 33 thereof as viewed in FIGURE 1.

The mount 33 includes a pair of legs 35 and 36 diverging upwardly from the member 33' and terminating in substantially parallel portions 37 and 38. The parallel portions 37 and 38 are notched at 37' and 38 respectively and include openings 39 and 40. The bracket 33 is supported by the plate 18, the latter being provided with slots or recesses 41 and 42 to accommodate the parallel portions 37 and 38 of the bracket and a pair of pivot mounts 43 and 44 which engage the openings 39 and 40. The depth of the notches 37 and 38' is coordinated with the depth of the slots 41 and 42 and the position of the pivots 43 and 44 so that the bases of the notches 37 and 38 engage the inner ends of the slots 41 and 42 when the bracket is in the vertical position as shown in FIGURE 1. If desired, the vertical position may be controlled by providing offset portions 45 and 46 along the outer edges of the parallel portions 37 and 38 so that when the bracket 33 is in the vertical position the lower edges of these offset portions engage the top surface of the plate 18. The bracket is held in the vertical position by a pair of spring tabs 47 and 48 which engage the underside of the plate 18 when the bracket is in the position shown in FIGURE 1. In order to hold the bracket 33 in a horizontal position as shown in FIGURE 2, the bracket is preferably arranged so that the distance between the parallel portions 37 and 38 is somewhat greater than the distance between the slots 41 and 42. Thus, when the bracket is raised to the position shown in FIG- URE 2, it expands and rests upon the portions of the plate 18 adjoining the slots 41 and 42. To lower the bracket, it is merely necessary to urge the parallel portions 37 and 38 inwardly until they are aligned with the slots 41 and 4 2.

FIGURES 3, 4 and show the lighting fixture in accordance with the invention with a reflector 12 having a V-shaped central portion and adapted to receive a pair of fluorescent lamps. In this form of the invention, the bracket 33 is in the downward position and is accommodated within the V-shaped portion 12 of the reflector 12. The V-shaped portion 12' has recessed portions 49 as illustrated more clearly in FIGURE 4 in alignment with the brackets 33. An internally threaded rotary coupling 50 is carried on the inner surface 49' of the recess 49 and has a wing-shaped head portion 51 disposed within the recess 49. Rotation of the head 51 will rotate the coupling 50 to threadably engage it with the stud 34 and hold the reflector in position. At the same time, the reflector completely closes the wiring channel 10.

When fixtures in accordance with the invention are placed in end-to-end relationship, they may be held in alignment by connector elements 52 as shown in FIG- URES 6 and 7. For this purpose, the ends of the reflector 12 as well as the reflector 13 which will be described hereinafter are provided with slots 53 which accommodate the offset head portion 54 of each of the connectors 52. The head portion 54 is coupled to the body 55 of the connector by a narrow neck 56 and the body of the connector 55 is curved to conform with the curvature of the cooperating reflectors. The lower end of the connector has an outwardly extending flange 57 which in turn carries a narrow tab 58. The flange 57 seats in an outwardly formed channel portion 59 along the side edges of the reflector and the tab 58 cooperates with the neck 56 to effect the desired spacing between the reflectors.

In this embodiment of the invention, a pair of fluorescent lamps are accommodated by sockets 60 and 61 in the usual manner. It will be observed that the central opening as shown, for instance, in FIGURE 5 is not utilized when embodying the reflector 12.

FIGURES 8 through 10 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein a reflector 13 having'a flat central portion 13 is employed. In this case, the brackets 33 are placed in the raised or horizontal position as shown in FIGURE 2, and the reflector 13 has a pair of coupling members 62 each of which includes an internal threaded coupling 63 and a wing-shaped head 64 for rotating the coupling 63. With this arrangement, the couplers 6 3 threadably engage the studs 31 carried directly by the plate 18 to hold the reflector in position against the wineway 10. In this form, the lighting fixture may accommodate three fluorescent lamps and the reflector supporting and socket assembly would therefore include, in addition to sockets 60 and 61, a central socket 61'.

While only certain embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is apparent that alternations, modifications and changes may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit thereof as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a fluorescent light fixture having an elongated wiring channel, a fluorescent lamp socket assembly depending from each end of said wiring channel and at least two reflector supporting assemblies secured to said wiring channel and adapted to carry selected types of elongated reflectors such as reflectors having a relatively flat central longitudinal area and reflectors having a central longitudinal V-shaped section, each of said reflector supporting assemblies comprising a plate afflxed in underlying relationship to said channel, a first reflector support secured to said plate for selectively engaging the first of said reflector types and a second reflector support comprising a U-shaped bracket having leg members and a transverse connecting member, reflector engaging means carried by said transverse member, and means pivoting the ends of said leg members to said plate, said U-shaped member being movable from a horizontal position to a vertical downwardly extending position to place the reflector engaging means carried thereby in position to selectively engage the second of said reflector types.

2. In a fluorescent light fixture having an elongated wiring channel, a fluorescent lamp socket assembly depending from each end of said wiring channel and at least two reflector supporting assemblies secured to said wiring channel and adapted to carry selected types of elongated reflectors such as reflectors having a relatively flat central longitudinal area and reflectors having a central longitudinal V-shaped section, each of said reflector supporting assemblies comprising a plate aflixed in underlying relationship to said channel, a first reflector sup port secured to said plate, for selectively engaging the first of said reflector types and a second reflector support comprising a U-shaped bracket having leg members and a transverse connecting member, reflector engaging means carried by said transverse member, and means pivoting the ends of said leg members to said plate, said U-shaped member being movable from a horizontal position to a vertical downwardly extending position to place the reflector engaging means carried thereby in position to selectively engage the second of said reflector types, said reflectors each including outwardly formed channels along the longitudinal edges thereof and a pair of narrow slots formed in each end edge and with each slot spaced from the adjoining longitudinal edge, and bracket means comprising an elongated body having a curvature corresponding to the curvature of said reflector between one of said slots and the adjoining longitudinal channel, an outwardly extending flange on one end thereof to seal in the last said channel, a narrow neck extending from the other end of said body and an elongated transverse tab carried by said neck, said tab being movable through adjoining slots on two of said reflectors positioned in end-to-end relationship and engaging the inner surfaces of said reflectors with said neck extending between the reflectors when said flange is seated in the last said channel, said neck holding said reflectors in predetermined spaced relationship, and a tab extending from said flange and having a width equal to the width of said neck, the last said tab being disposed between the ends of the longitudinal channels on said reflectors when said flange is seated in said channel to hold the channels in said predetermined spaced relationship.

3. In a fluorescent light fixture having an elongated wiring channel, a fluorescent lamp socket assembly depending from each end of said channel and reflector supporting assemblies adjoining each end of said channel, each of said assemblies comprising a plate carried by and underlying said channel, a reflector fastener on said plate, a bracket member including a transverse portion and a pair of legs diverging outwardly from said transverse portion and terminating in parallel end portions, means pivoting said parallel end portions to said plate, and a second reflector fastener on said transverse portion, said bracket being movable from one position substantially coplanar with said plate to another position normal to said plate and extending away from said wiring channel.

4. In a fluorescent light fixture having an elongated wiring channel, a fluorescent lamp socket assembly depending from each end of said channel and reflector supporting assemblies adjoining each end of said channel, each of said assemblies comprising a plate carried by and underlying said channel, a reflector fastener on said plate, a bracket member including a transverse portion and a pair of legs diverging outwardly from said transverse portion and terminating in parallel end portions, means pivoting said parallel end portions to said plate,

and a second reflector fastener on said transverse portion, said bracket being movable from one position substantially coplanar with said plate to another position normal to said plate and extending away from said wiring channel, said plate including a pair of spaced slots in one edge thereof, and a pair of pivot pins carried on the side of said plate facing said wiring channel, the parallel end portions of said bracket having openings engaging said pivot pins whereby said bracket when in said one position is disposed wholly on the side of said plate facing the wiring channel and when in the other position said parallel end portions engage said slots.

5. In a fluorescent light fixture having an elongated wiring channel, a fluorescent lamp socket assembly depending from each end of said channel, and reflector supporting assemblies adjoining each end of said channel, each of said assemblies comprising a plate carried by and underlying said channel, a reflector fastener on said plate, a bracket member including a transverse portion and a pair of legs diverging outwardly from said transverse portion and terminating in parallel end portions, means pivoting said parallel end portions to said plate, and a second reflector fastener on said transverse portion, said bracket being movable from one position substantially coplanar with said plate to another position normal to said plate and extending away from said wiring channel, said plate including a pair of spaced slots in one edge thereof, said slots being spaced apart a distance slightly less than the distance between the parallel end portions of said bracket, a pair of pivot pins adjoining the inner ends of said slots and carried on one side of said plate which faces said wiring channel, said parallel end portions of said bracket having openings in engagement with said pins, said bracket being movable from said one position to the other position by displacing said parallel end portions inwardly and in alignment with said slots, means on said parallel end portions engaging said one surface of said plate to limit movement beyond said normal position and releasably locking means on said parallel end portions engaging the other side of said plate to hold said bracket in said normal position.

References Cited 

1. IN A FLUORESCENT LIGHT FIXTURE HAVING AN ELONGATED WIRING CHANNEL, A FLUORESCENT LAMP SOCKET ASSEMBLY DEPENDING FROM EACH END OF SAID WIRING CHANNEL AND AT LEAST TWO REFLECTOR SUPPORTING ASSEMBLIES SECURED TO SAID WIRING CHANNEL AND ADAPTED TO CARRY SELECTED TYPES OF ELONGATED REFLECTORS SUCH AS REFLECTORS HAVING A RELATIVELY FLAT CENTRAL LONGITUDINAL AREA AND REFLECTORS HAVING A CENTRAL LONGITUDINAL V-SHAPED SECTION, EACH OF SAID REFLECTOR SUPPORTING ASSEMBLIES COMPRISING A PLATE AFFIXED IN UNDERLYING RELATIONSHIP TO SAID CHANNEL, A FIRST REFLECTOR SUPPORT SECURED TO SAID PLATE FOR SELECTIVELY ENGAGING THE FIRST OF SAID REFLECTOR TYPES AND A SECOND REFLECTOR SUPPORT COMPRISING A U-SHAPED BRACKET HAVING LEG MEMBERS AND A TRANSVERSE CONNECTING MEMBER, REFLECTOR ENGAGING MEANS CARRIED BY SAID TRANSVERSE MEMBER, AND MEANS PIVOTING THE ENDS OF SAID LEG MEMBERS TO SAID PLATE, SAID U-SHAPED MEMBER BEING MOVABLE FROM A HORIZONTAL POSITION TO A 